West Berkshire residents enjoy Buckingham Palace garden party
The Queen is hosting two garden parties at the palace this year, and the first was held on Tuesday.
Among the guests was Barrie Padwick, who was invited as secretary of the Reading and Oxford branch of the Coldstream Guards.
The 70-year-old, who went to the palace with his wife Patricia, has actually guarded the palace during his military career but this was the first time he had been invited into the grounds.
He said: “There must have been about 5,000 there from all walks of life.
“The gardens were absolutely beautiful. There’s also a lake with an island in the middle.
“We were in touching distance of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.”
West Berkshire councillor Carol Jackson-Doerge (Con, Burghfield) was also in attendance, with her husband Udo Doerge.
Mrs Jackson-Doerge was nominated to attend the party by the former High Sheriff of Berkshire, Dr Christina Hill-Williams.
The district councillor volunteered for Dr Hill-Williams and two other former High Sheriffs, Dr Carolyn Jane Boulter and Lady Catherine May Stevenson, organising their public engagements and working as a press officer.
She said: “It was a real privilege to be invited. It was an absolutely fantastic day.
“It’s a wonderful piece of British heritage. The gardens were stunning.”
East Isley resident, Gareth Jones was also in attendance with his wife, Debra, both pictured.